U.S. patent number 5,413,499 [Application Number 08/135,022] was granted by the patent office on 1995-05-09 for battery holder.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Amprobe Instrument. Invention is credited to Joseph P. Pecukonis, Austin J. Wright, Jr..
United States Patent |
5,413,499 |
Wright, Jr. , et
al. |
May 9, 1995 |
Battery holder
Abstract
A battery holder retains and electrically connects a battery to
electrical contacts contained within a housing of an electrical
device. The battery holder includes a battery drawer which receives
the battery and positions the battery within the housing of the
electrical device. The battery drawer includes a rear end wall
defining apertures for receiving the terminals of the battery.
Pivotable connecting means allow the battery drawer to move within
an opening defined in the housing between an open position for
receiving the battery and a closed position wherein the drawer and
battery are received within the housing. A cam surface within the
housing contacts the battery as the drawer is closed and biases the
battery against the rear end wall of the drawer to effect
engagement of the terminals with the electrical contacts in the
housing through the apertures in the rear end wall of the drawer.
The apertures are adapted to prevent the battery terminals from
being connected to the incorrect electrical contact (i.e. contact
of opposite polarity) within the housing. No component of the
battery holder may be completely detached from the housing of the
electrical device.
Inventors: |
Wright, Jr.; Austin J. (Aurora,
CO), Pecukonis; Joseph P. (Englewood, CO) |
Assignee: |
Amprobe Instrument (Lynbrook,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22466147 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/135,022 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/500; 429/1;
429/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M
50/588 (20210101); H01M 50/209 (20210101); Y02E
60/10 (20130101); H01M 50/572 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01M
2/10 (20060101); H01M 2/34 (20060101); H01M
2/20 (20060101); H01R 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/500
;429/97-100,1,121,7,9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pirlot; David L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ley; John R. Phillips; John B. Ley;
John R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A battery holder for retaining a battery within a housing of an
electrical device and for electrically connecting said battery to
said electrical device, said battery having a first end and a
second end and further including both a positive terminal and a
negative terminal fixed to said first end, said housing defining an
opening having a forward edge and a rear edge, and electrical
contacts positioned within said housing to contact said positive
and negative terminals, said battery holder comprising:
a battery drawer comprising a rear end wall defining a first
aperture adapted to receive said positive terminal and a second
aperture adapted to receive said negative terminal;
means pivotably connecting said battery drawer to said housing
within said opening for swinging movement between a closed position
in which said drawer is received within said housing, and an open
position in which said drawer extends outwardly from said housing
for receiving said battery with said positive terminal extending
through said first aperture and said negative terminal extending
through said second aperture; and
means biasing said battery towards said rear end wall when said
battery drawer swings from said open position to said closed
position to maintain said terminals extended through said apertures
and effect engagement of said terminals with said electrical
contacts.
2. A battery holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing
means comprises a cam surface facing said rear end wall of said
battery drawer for contacting said second end of said battery
within said housing, said cam surface defining an arc that is
substantially the same as an arc defined by said second end of said
battery when said drawer is moved from said open position to said
closed position.
3. A battery holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said battery
drawer pivots between said closed position and a maximum open
position which is sufficient for said drawer to receive said
battery.
4. A battery holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said first
aperture is adapted to prevent said negative terminal from being
received therein.
5. A battery holder as defined in claim 4, wherein said second end
of said battery contacts said housing adjacent said forward edge of
said opening to prevent said battery drawer from closing when said
positive terminal does not extend through said first aperture.
6. A battery holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivotable
connecting means comprises a hinge pin fixed to said battery drawer
adjacent said rear end wall, and further comprising means retaining
said hinge pin within said housing.
7. A battery holder as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing
comprises a top shell and a bottom shell joined together, with said
bottom shell defining said opening.
8. A battery holder as defined in claim 7, wherein said retaining
means comprises a hinge pin retainer fixed to said top shell, said
hinge pin retainer including a flat surface facing said bottom
shell for supporting said hinge pin, and a hinge pin cover fixed to
said bottom shell, said hinge pin cover defining a slot having an
open end facing said top shell, said flat surface of said hinge pin
retainer engaging said open end of said hinge pin cover upon
joinder of said top and bottom shells to pivotably retain said
hinge pin within said slot.
9. A battery holder as defined in claim 7, wherein said biasing
means comprises a cam surface facing said rear end wall of said
battery drawer for contacting said second end of said battery
within said housing, said cam surface extending between a first
point adjacent said bottom shell and flush with said forward edge
of said opening, and a second point adjacent said top shell.
10. A battery holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said battery
drawer further includes a bottom wall attached perpendicularly to
said rear end wall and a side wall attached perpendicularly to both
the bottom wall and the rear end wall, said side wall and said
bottom wall defining a contiguous slot which extends parallel to
said rear end wall to define a forward section opposite said bottom
wall, said side wall including a latch attached to a forward edge
of said side wall opposite said rear end wall, said latch adapted
to engage said housing adjacent said forward edge of said opening
to prevent said battery drawer from opening unintentionally when
said drawer is closed.
11. A battery holder as defined in claim 10, wherein said side wall
further includes a retaining pin fixed opposite said bottom wall,
and wherein said battery drawer pivots between a closed position
and a maximum open position sufficient for said battery drawer to
receive said battery, said maximum open position defined by contact
between said retaining pin and said housing adjacent said
opening.
12. A battery holder as defined in claim 10, wherein said slot
extends to a terminal point within said side wall, and wherein a
resilient hinge portion of said side wall adjacent said terminal
point is adapted to be compressed to displace said forward section
and said forward edge of said side wall toward said bottom wall to
disengage said latch from said housing.
13. A battery holder as defined in claim 12, further including a
flange attached to said forward section, said flange extending into
said slot toward said bottom wall when said drawer is in said
closed position to prevent debris from entering said housing, and
said bottom wall further defining a recess for receiving said
flange when said resilient hinge portion of said side wall is
compressed.
14. A battery holder for retaining a battery within a housing of an
electrical device and for electrically connecting a positive
terminal and a negative terminal of said battery to electrical
contacts within said housing, said housing defining an opening for
receiving said battery, said battery holder comprising:
a battery drawer having a rear end wall defining a first aperture
adapted to receive said positive terminal and a second aperture
adapted to receive said negative terminal;
means pivotably connecting said battery drawer to said housing
within said opening for movement between a closed position in which
said battery drawer is received within said housing, and an open
position in which said battery drawer extends outwardly from said
housing for receiving said battery; and
means biasing said battery towards said rear end wall when said
battery drawer moves from said open position to said closed
position to extend said positive terminal through said first
aperture and said negative terminal through said second aperture
and effect engagement of said terminals with said electrical
contacts.
15. A battery holder as defined in claim 14, wherein said first
aperture is adapted to prevent said negative terminal from being
received therein.
16. A battery holder for retaining a battery within a housing of an
electrical device and for electrically connecting said battery to
said electrical device, said battery having both a positive
terminal and a negative terminal fixed adjacent to one another,
said housing comprising a top shell and a bottom shell joined
together, said bottom shell further defining an opening having a
forward edge and a rear edge, and electrical contacts positioned
within said housing to contact said positive and negative
terminals, said battery holder comprising:
a battery drawer comprising a bottom wall, a side wall, and a rear
end wall attached perpendicularly to one another, and a hinge pin
fixed adjacent the juncture of said side wall, said bottom wall and
said rear end wall, said rear end wall defining a first aperture
adapted to receive said positive terminal and a second aperture
adapted to receive said negative terminal;
a hinge pin retainer fixed to said top shell and having a flat
surface facing said bottom shell for supporting said hinge pin;
a hinge pin cover fixed to said bottom shell and defining a slot
having an open end facing said top shell, said flat surface of said
hinge pin retainer engaging said open end of said hinge pin cover
upon joinder of said top and bottom shells to pivotably retain said
hinge pin within said slot for swinging movement of said battery
drawer between a closed position in which said drawer is received
within said housing, and an open position in which said drawer
extends outwardly from said housing for receiving said battery with
said positive terminal extending through said first aperture and
said negative terminal extending through said second aperture;
and
a cam surface extending between a first point within said housing
adjacent said bottom shell and flush with said forward edge of said
opening, and a second point within said housing adjacent said top
shell, said cam surface facing said rear end wall of said battery
drawer and contacting said battery when said battery drawer swings
from said open position to said closed position to maintain said
terminals extended through said apertures and effect engagement of
said terminals with said electrical contacts.
17. A battery holder as defined in claim 16, wherein said first
aperture is adapted to prevent said negative terminal from being
received therein.
18. A battery holder as defined in claim 17, wherein said bottom
wall and said side wall of said drawer define a contiguous slot
which extends to a terminal point within said side wall, said slot
extending parallel to said rear end wall to define a forward
section opposite said bottom wall, said side wall further including
a latch attached to a forward edge of said side wall opposite said
rear end wall, said latch adapted to engage said bottom shell
adjacent said forward edge of said opening to prevent said battery
drawer from opening unintentionally when said drawer is closed.
19. A battery holder as defined in claim 17, wherein said battery
drawer further includes a retaining pin fixed to said side wall,
said retaining pin contacting said housing adjacent said opening as
said drawer is pivoted between said closed position and said open
position to define a maximum open position which is sufficient for
said drawer to receive said battery.
20. A battery holder as defined in claim 18, wherein a resilient
hinge portion of said side wall adjacent said terminal point is
adapted to be compressed to displace said forward section and said
forward edge of said side wall toward said bottom wall to disengage
said latch from said bottom shell.
21. A battery holder as defined in claim 20, further including a
flange attached to said forward section, said flange extending into
said slot toward said bottom wall when said drawer is closed to
prevent debris from entering said housing, and said bottom wall
further defining a recess for receiving said flange when said
resilient hinge portion of said side wall is compressed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to batteries and more particularly to
battery holders. More specifically, the present invention relates
to a holder for removably retaining and electrically connecting a
battery within an electrical device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Battery compartments for retaining one or more batteries within an
electrical device and electrically connecting the batteries to the
device are well known. Battery compartments typically utilize a
cover plate which must be completely detached from the electrical
device before a battery can be inserted within or removed from the
compartment. Detachable cover plates are subject to becoming lost
during battery replacement or during use of the electrical device
should the cover plate open unintentionally.
Many electrical devices utilize nine volt batteries wherein both
the positive and negative terminals are fixed to one end of the
battery. Such electrical devices typically utilize only a single
nine volt battery, and thus it is not uncommon for these devices to
require frequent battery changes. Nine volt batteries are typically
connected to electrical devices via a small connector cap which
contains the electrical contacts for both the positive and negative
terminals. Fine lead wires fixed to the connector are typically
used to complete the connection to the circuitry within the device.
Thus, loading or replacing a nine volt battery within a typical
battery compartment entails detaching the cover plate from the
electrical device and removing the connector and wires from the
compartment. Once the connector is manually placed over the battery
terminals, the battery, the connector and the lead wires are loaded
within the battery compartment and the cover plate is reattached to
the device. However, fitting the connector over both terminals may
frequently be difficult due to imprecise tolerances in the
manufacture of both the connector and the batteries themselves.
Furthermore, the fine lead wires between the connector and the
circuitry are easily damaged and may fail under continued use of
the electrical device. Thus, battery compartments for nine volt
batteries currently suffer from a number of difficulties which are
often compounded by frequent battery replacements.
It is with regard to this background information that the
improvements available from the present invention have evolved.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an
improved battery holder for use with electrical devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
battery holder which may be used to quickly and easily retain and
electrically connect a battery within an electrical device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
battery holder which utilizes no components that may be completely
detached from the electrical device to prevent loss or misplacement
of such components.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
battery holder of the foregoing type for connecting a nine volt
battery to electrical contacts fixed within an electrical device to
thereby enhance the durability and life span of the electrical
device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved battery holder which prevents the battery from being
connected incorrectly (i.e. with reverse polarity) to the
electrical contacts within the electrical device.
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention
is embodied in a battery holder for retaining a battery within a
housing of an electrical device and for electrically connecting the
battery to electrical contacts contained within the housing. The
battery holder finds particular but not exclusive use with
batteries having both a positive and a negative terminal fixed to
one end of the battery, such as nine volt batteries.
The battery holder includes several components. First, a battery
drawer receives the battery and positions the battery properly
within the housing of the electrical device. The battery drawer
includes a rear end wall defining a first aperture adapted to
receive the positive terminal of the battery and a second aperture
adapted to receive the negative terminal of the battery. Secondly,
the battery holder includes means for pivotably connecting the
battery drawer within an opening defined in the housing, for
movement between an open position in which the drawer extends
outside the housing for receiving the battery, and a closed
position in which the drawer and the battery are received within
the housing. The connecting means preferably comprises a hinge pin
connected to the battery drawer and means within the housing for
pivotably retaining the pin. Next, a cam surface is positioned
within the housing to contact the battery as the battery drawer is
closed and bias the battery against the rear end wall of the
battery drawer. The cam surface engages the battery to maintain the
positive and negative battery terminals within their respective
apertures in the rear end wall and thereby effect engagement of the
terminals with the electrical contacts in the housing.
The pivotable connection of the battery drawer to the housing of
the electrical device precludes the battery drawer from being
completely detached from the housing. Thus, no component of the
battery holder is subject to being lost or misplaced during use of
the electrical device or during replacement of the battery.
Additionally, each aperture defined in the rear end wall of the
battery drawer is adapted to receive only its respective battery
terminal. Thus, it is not possible to incorrectly connect the
battery within the electrical device. Furthermore, the electrical
contacts and the lead wires between the contacts and the electrical
device are fixed within the housing and thus are not likely to be
damaged, even when the electrical device is subjected to continual
use and numerous battery changes.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and its scope
can be obtained from understanding the accompanying drawings, which
are briefly summarized below, the following detailed description of
a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing of an electrical device
including a battery holder embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the housing
illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the battery holder in an open
position, and with an inserted battery shown in phantom.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the plane
of line 3--3 in FIG. 1, showing a nine volt battery contained
within the battery holder.
FIG. 4 is a partial section view taken substantially in the plane
of line 4--4 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the plane
of line 5--5 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line
6--6 in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the plane
of line 7--7 in FIG. 4, illustrating a latch on the battery holder
engaged with an interior surface of the housing.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged section view similar to FIG. 7, showing a
portion of the battery holder compressed to disengage the latch
from the interior surface of the housing.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the plane
of line 9--9 in FIG. 2, but showing the nine volt battery withdrawn
from the battery holder.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the
plane of line 10--10 in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the nine volt battery
and the battery holder illustrated in FIGS. 1--3, showing a portion
of a top and bottom shell of the housing and a pair of electrical
contacts contained within the housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a molded housing 20 for a small electrical
device incorporates a battery compartment 22 in which a battery
holder 24 embodying the present invention is mounted. The battery
holder 24 includes a battery drawer 26 pivotably connected to the
housing 20 to swing between a closed position within the battery
compartment 22, as shown in FIG. 1, and an open position extending
outside the battery compartment 22, as shown in FIG. 2. When the
battery drawer 26 is in the open position, a battery 28 may be
loaded into or removed from the battery drawer 26 (FIG. 9).
Although a typical nine volt battery is shown, the battery holder
24 may be used with any battery or battery pack having both
terminals fixed to a first end 29 of the battery. When the battery
28 is properly oriented within the battery drawer 26, the drawer
may be closed to retain the battery securely within the battery
compartment 22 and engage the battery terminals with electrical
contacts 30 contained within the housing 20, as shown in FIG.
3.
The battery drawer 26 includes a bottom wall 32, opposing side
walls 34 and a rear end wall 36 connected together as shown in FIG.
11 to form a rectangular chamber of sufficient size to receive the
battery 28. The rear end wall 36 defines a first aperture 38 and a
second aperture 40 for respectively receiving a positive and a
negative battery terminal 42 and 44. The battery terminals 42 and
44 are substantially round, with the negative terminal 44 having a
larger diameter than the positive terminal 42. To accommodate the
battery terminals 42 and 44, the apertures 38 and 40 are preferably
round, with the diameter of the first aperture 38 preferably
smaller than the diameter of the second aperture 40 to prevent the
first aperture 38 from receiving the larger negative terminal
44.
Each side wall 34 of the battery drawer 26 has a forward edge 46
with a latch 48 fixed thereto for releasably latching the battery
drawer 26 to the housing 20, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7-9 and 11. Each
latch 48 includes a cam surface 50 and a flat engaging surface 52
that are described in greater detail below. Additionally, the
battery drawer 26 includes two cylindrical hinge pins 54 for
pivotably connecting the battery drawer 26 to the housing 20. The
hinge pins 54 are preferably fixed to the battery drawer 26 at the
juncture of the bottom wall 32, the rear end wall 36 and each side
wall 34, as shown in FIG. 11. Furthermore, two retaining pins 56
for limiting the opening motion of the battery drawer 26 are fixed
to an exterior surface of each side wall 34 along a top edge 58 of
the side wall, as shown in FIG. 11.
A latching mechanism for releasably latching the battery drawer 26
in the closed position includes a forward section 60 which is
separated from the bottom wall 32 of the battery drawer by a
contiguous slot 62 (FIGS. 2, 7-9 and 11) which extends parallel to
the rear end wall 36 between a terminal point 64 in one side wall
34 of the battery drawer and a terminal point in the opposite side
wall. The forward section 60 connects the forward edges 46 of the
side walls 34 so that the latches 48 move with the forward section
60. The relative positions of the forward section 60 and the bottom
wall 32 are maintained by hinge portions 65 of the side walls 34
adjacent the terminal points 64 of the slot 62, as shown in FIG.
11. The battery drawer 26 is preferably molded from a stiffly
resilient plastic to provide a spring bias to the hinge portions
65. Applying a force to the forward section 60 in the direction of
the rear end wall 36 of the battery drawer 26 tends to compress the
spring biased hinge portions 65 and move the forward section 60
toward the bottom wall 32 to release the latches 48 from the
housing 20. A release tab 66 for facilitating the application of
such a force is attached to the forward section 60 opposite the
slot 62. Additionally, a flange 67 for keeping debris out of the
slot 62 is attached to the forward section 60 and extends toward
the bottom wall 32 across the slot 62, as shown in FIG. 7. A recess
68 formed within the bottom wall receives the flange 67 when the
hinge portions 65 of the side walls 34 are compressed and the
forward section 60 is forced together with the bottom wall 32, as
shown in FIG. 8. Furthermore, a pair of parallel support ribs 70
for contacting and supporting a bottom surface 72 of the battery 28
are attached to an interior surface of the bottom wall 32 and
extend between the rear end wall 36 and the recess 68 in the bottom
wall 32, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.
The housing 20 of the electrical device conventionally comprises a
top shell 74 and a bottom shell 76 joined together by screws or
fasteners 78 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 8, 9 and 11. The top and bottom
shells 74 and 76 may be molded or otherwise formed from plastic for
ease of manufacture.
An opening 80 for receiving the battery drawer 26 is formed in the
bottom shell 76, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11. The opening 80 is
generally shaped to accommodate the battery configuration and, in
the form shown, is rectangular. A recess 82 formed in the bottom
shell 76 adjacent a forward edge 84 of the opening 80 facilitates
access to the battery drawer 26, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 11. The
recess 82 is centered between opposing side edges 86 of the opening
and is of sufficient size to receive a thumb or a finger therein
for opening the battery drawer 26.
Guides 88 on a rear wall 90 of the bottom shell retain a first end
92 of the electrical contacts as shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 11, while
a second end 94 of each electrical contact extends toward a rear
edge 96 of the opening 80. Electrical lead wires 98 attached to
each first end 92 of the electrical contacts (FIGS. 9 and 11)
connect the electrical contacts to the electrical device (not
shown) contained within the housing 20.
The battery holder 24 includes means for pivotably retaining the
cylindrical hinge pins 54 attached to the battery drawer 26.
Preferably, the bottom shell 76 includes two hinge pin covers 100
formed along the opposing side edges 86 of the opening 80 adjacent
the rear edge 96 of the opening as shown in FIG. 11. Each hinge pin
cover 100 defines a hinge pin slot 102 therein which is flush with
the side edge 86 of the opening 80 and which has an open end 104
that faces the top shell 74. The top shell 74 preferably includes
two hinge pin retainers 106 for contacting the hinge pin covers 100
in the bottom shell 76. The hinge pin retainers 106 are preferably
fixed to the top shell 74 opposite the hinge pin covers 100 and
define a flat surface 108 extending toward the bottom shell 76.
Upon joinder of the top and bottom shells 74 and 76, the flat
surface 108 of the hinge pin retainer 106 abuts the hinge pin cover
100 to close the open end 104 of the hinge pin slot 102.
The top shell 74 also includes two ramps 110 defining cam surfaces
112 engageable with a second end 114 of the battery 28 for biasing
the battery toward the electrical contacts 30 within the housing 20
as the battery drawer 26 is closed. The ramps 110 are preferably
formed along a forward wall 116 of the top shell 74 as shown in
FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 11. Each cam surface 112 extends between a narrow
end 118 of the ramp adjacent the recess 82 in the bottom shell and
a wide end 120 of the ramp fixed to the top shell 74, as shown in
FIG. 11. The cam surface 112 is substantially flush with the
forward edge 84 of the opening 80 at the narrow end 118 of the
ramp, but preferably curves or slopes away from the forward wall
116 of the top shell (FIGS. 3, 9 and 11) to match the arcuate path
traveled by the second end 114 of the battery as the battery drawer
26 pivots to the closed position. The cam surface 112 at the wide
end 120 of each ramp merges with a support rib 122 mounted on the
top shell 74 (FIG. 11), and the two support ribs 122 extend
parallel to one another between the wide ends 120 of the ramps 110
and a rear wall 124 of the top shell 74 to support the battery 28
within the compartment 22 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.
During assembly of the housing 20, the battery drawer 26 is
positioned within the opening 80 in the bottom shell 76 and the
hinge pins 54 are fit within the hinge pin slots 102 of the hinge
pin covers 100. The top shell 74 is then connected to the bottom
shell 76 so that the flat surface 108 of each hinge pin retainer
106 contacts the opposite hinge pin cover 100 to close the open end
104 of the slot 102 and pivotably retain the hinge pin 54 within
the slot 102, as shown in FIG. 6.
Once the top and bottom shells 74 and 76 are joined, the battery
drawer 26 is free to pivot between the open position shown in FIG.
2 and the closed position shown in FIG. 1. A maximum open position
of the battery drawer 26 (FIG. 9) is defined by contact between the
retaining pins 56 on the side walls 34 of the battery drawer 26 and
an interior surface of the bottom shell 76 adjacent the side edges
86 of the opening, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The maximum open
position provides sufficient clearance for the battery 28 to be
loaded within the battery drawer 26 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. The
battery 28 is loaded with the first end 29 facing the rear end wall
36 of the battery drawer 26 to align the positive and negative
terminals 42 and 44 with the first and second apertures 38 and 40,
respectively, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. Once the battery
terminals have been received within their respective apertures, the
drawer 26 may be pivoted to the closed position.
If the battery 28 is loaded improperly so that the relatively large
negative terminal 44 is aligned with the relatively small first
aperture 38, the second end 114 of the battery 28 will not clear
the forward edge 84 of the opening 80 as the battery drawer 26 is
closed. Instead, the second end 114 of the battery will contact the
bottom shell 76 and prevent the battery drawer 26 from pivoting to
the closed position. Similarly, if the battery is loaded within the
drawer 26 so that the second end 114 faces the rear end wall 36 of
the drawer 26, the battery terminals will fail to clear the forward
edge 84 of the opening 80 and thus prevent the battery drawer 26
from closing. Therefore, the battery drawer 26 can only be closed
when the battery 28 is oriented properly within the drawer.
As the battery 28 and the drawer 26 pivot to the closed position,
the cam surfaces 112 of the ramps 110 engage the second end 114 of
the battery and cam the battery 28 towards the rear end wall 36 of
the drawer so that the positive and negative terminals 42 and 44
remain within the first and second apertures 38 and 40,
respectively. Upon reaching the closed position, the positive and
negative terminals 42 and 44 engage the electrical contacts 30, as
shown in FIG. 3. In the closed position, the battery 28 is held
firmly within the compartment 22 to keep the terminals engaged with
the electrical contacts during use of the electrical device.
When the battery drawer 26 is nearly closed, the cam surfaces 50 of
the latches 48 on the forward edge 46 of the side walls 34 contact
the bottom shell 76 at the forward edge 84 of the opening 80. A
closing force applied to either the bottom wall 32 or the forward
section 60 causes an opposing force to compress the spring biased
hinge portions 65 of the side walls 34, as shown in FIG. 8. The
forward section 60 is thus displaced toward the bottom wall 32 (and
the flange 67 on the forward section 60 is received within the
recess 68 on the bottom wall) so that the cam surfaces 50 slide
past the bottom shell 76. Once the cam surfaces 50 clear the bottom
shell, the compressed hinge portions 65 of the side walls 34 expand
to position the flat engaging surfaces 52 of the latches 48 against
the interior surface of the bottom shell 76 adjacent the forward
edge 84 of the opening, as shown in FIG. 7. In the closed position,
the bottom wall 32 of the battery drawer 26 is flush with the
opening 80, and the flange 67 on the forward section 60 is
positioned within the slot 62 to prevent debris from entering the
battery compartment 22 through the slot 62, as shown in FIG. 7.
While the latching mechanism prevents the battery drawer 26 from
opening unintentionally, the drawer may be opened by applying a
sufficient opening force on the release tab 66 positioned within
the recess 82 of the bottom shell. Once the latches 48 have been
disengaged, the battery drawer 26 may be pivoted to the maximum
open position to allow the battery 28 to be removed from the
drawer.
The battery holder of the present invention embodies a number of
improvements over prior art battery compartments. For instance, the
battery drawer 26 is pivotably retained to the housing 20 to
prevent the drawer being lost when it is opened. Additionally, the
electrical contacts 30 and the lead wires 98 from the contacts to
the electrical device are fixed to the housing 20, and thus are
more durable than connectors which must be manually placed over the
battery terminals prior to fitting the battery 28 within the
battery compartment 22. In addition, the battery holder of the
present invention is simple to use and allows for quick battery
changes. To change a battery one need only open the battery drawer
26, remove the old battery, and load a fresh battery within the
drawer and close the drawer. If the battery 28 is properly loaded
within the battery drawer 26, the battery terminals are correctly
connected to the contacts 30 within the housing 20. Conversely, the
battery drawer 26 will not close if the battery 28 is improperly
loaded within the drawer.
A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and many
of its improvements have been described with a degree of
particularity. This description has been made by way of preferred
example and is based on a present understanding of knowledge
available regarding the invention. It should be understood,
however, that the scope of the present invention is defined by the
following claims, and not necessarily by the detailed description
of the preferred embodiment.
* * * * *